Ethnomads
:)
Aloha Kakou,
Chris here!
First at foremost I want to say mahalo to everyone who has checked in, as for myself and my immediate family, we made it through the Kona Low undamaged. However, a lot of the community is hurting from the disaster this storm has caused.
Here are links for ways that you can financially help the affected families get back on their feet.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1AG8KjiEGxYLxF27oBnbI6I-u6H5crdhI-lf8UonpIl4/htmlview
It was heartbreaking to see so many peoples habitats destroyed and the footprint we as humans leave in its wake. Due to the dump being closed and the collective amount of unsalvageable belongings, the intersection of the highway became a mountain of waste. I say unsalvageable because years of pesticides and chemicals from Dole and the military, bursted with heavy rain from the uplands like a tidal wave sweeping up cess pools and farm runoff. All this black water rushed through families homes seeping into everything they owned.
When working at an uncles home, I was overcome with emotions.
Sorrow seeing multigenerational artifacts demolished, frustration from the lack of aid by our government, and inspiration seeing all the hands come together to care with a smile. Aloha, that’s one thing that can’t be ruined in the spirit of lāhui; the gathering together of Hawaiʻi. Regardless of what they lost, the streets were filled with citizen heroes donating whatever resources and manpower they had left to help each other out. This is what makes Hawaiʻi special.
Another thing on my mind is the amount of content people produce about them being there. I understand the desire to show off compassion. But it might cause reverse psychology to people watching. To those on the other side - don’t feel like your not doing enough. Small good deeds can lead up to beautiful patterns. If you cannot physically or financially help out, no worries. Mālama yourself so that you can show up for people you come across naturally. What happened in Waialua is a reminder that some things are out of our control, yet we must be able bodied and ready to help our neighbor when crisis inevitably comes. Ea begins in the mind.
Keʻili and I just went to the movies to see a movie called Hail Mary. It was awesome. On surface, it was a story about the end of the world, but at the core, it was about what kind of beings we are in difficult decisions, and what kind of beings we can be when faced with our mortality. The protagonist lived a life of isolation, some by his own decision, and some forced upon him… through a great adventure he learns that survival depends on collaboration. On shared purpose and not similarity. Without spoiling too much of the film, I left the theaters with the value that heroic acts come from a selfless place in our heart. I think any art that makes you feel that is worth it.
Back to life updates, we just celebrated Keilis lā hānau. 28 laps around the sun, this wahine! I am proud of her stepping out of her comfort zone and being more expressive! She just started a vlog which you can view here.
Here is one of the presents I made for her! A new hoe for her wa’a experiences. It was made by laminating a wheelbarrow handle to some scraps of leftover palawunia wood, lots of time with a planer, lots of coats of varnish and alotta love.
We also covered all our dings on ʻAʻā with primer and bottom paint! I didn’t get any photos or videos because its a pretty full focus activity but ill share bumbai.
There’s an update of our ordinary extraordinary days. Mahalo for tuning in :)
A hui hou
-Chris
